Water-mixing valve



Nov. 10, 1925.

' o. w. VALLIER WATER MIXING VALVE Filed April 6. 1925 Patented Nov. 10,1925.

UNITED "STATES 1,561,127- PATENT OFFICE.

QRVIS W. VALLIER, OF WATERTOXVN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 J. B. WISE INCOR-PORATED, OF WATER'IOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WATER-MIXING: VALVE.

Application filed April 6, 1925. Serial No. 21,066.

To all to 710m it may C07'LC6TIL Be it known that I, Onvrs W. VALLIER, acitizen of the United States, residing at VVatertown, in the county oi Jeiferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in ater- Mixing Valves, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in mixing-valves designed forsupplying water to tub and shower baths, lavatories, sinks, and thelike, by means of which colol and hot water may be dispensed by a singlevalve and a single control.

The object of the invention is to provide a casing whose interior isformed with a valve-chamber, in which is rotatably disposed a valve, thesaid valve being formed with a concentric mixing-chamber whichcommunicates with the valve-chamber, by means of radial ports; the saidcasing being formed at opposite sides with hollow arms that respectivelysupply coldand hot water; the ports of the valve being disposed in thesame plane as the axis of said arms, and

adapted when the valve is rotated, to conduct the water into themixing-chanibe1z .A further objcctis to provide-a stem which is fittedwith a handle for operating the valve. A further object isto providemeans for reciprocating the stem axially relatively to said chambers fordispensing-the cold and hot water. A further object is to provide anadjusting member that is arranged con centric to the stem and cooperateswith said reciprocating means for holding the valve in its seat. Afurther object is to provide means for stopping the rotary movements ofthe stem and valve immediately the valve is closed. A particular objectof the present invention is to provide novel and simple means forpreventing leakage of water through the top of the valve casing,comprising a non-rotatable washer-like part, which is mounted upon theadjusting member concentric to said member and said stem, at relativelythick circular packing member which overlies said washer, and is held inplace by a cap, which closes the top of the casing and compresses thepacking in a manner to prevent leakage around the adjusting member andstem.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in the mixing valvesshown and described in my pending applications Serial,

Nos. 2,346and 15,955, filed respectively January 1 1, 1925, and March16, 1925.

I attain these objects by the means set,

forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and as illustrated bythe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central verticalsection, taken on line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is-a horizontal sectiontaken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the valve positioned for dispensingcold water. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.similar section, taken on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similarsection,-takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a broken horizontalsection taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the valve set for mixingcold and hot water. Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing by full lines, thevalve positioned for drawing only hot water; the dotted lines of thisview showing the valve closed. Fig. 8 is a hori- Fig. 4 is av zontalsection taken on line 88 of Fig. 9,

water. And Fig. 9 is a central vertical sec-- tion taken on line 99 ofFig. 8.

In the drawing, the mixing valve comprises a casing or body 2, which isformed with a-hollow cylindrical portion 2, a 1101- low neck 2 thataligns axially with said portion 2, and with atapered valve seat 2,between said port-ions. At opposite sides of the casing are disposedarms?) and 4, which are arranged at right angles to the axis of thevalve chamber and respectively conduct cold and .hot water to thechamber 2 by means of aligning ducts 34. The arms 3 and 4 are shownthreaded intothe casing, but these parts may be integral with thecasing.

The dispensing ofcold and hot water 111- dependently, as well as themixing of said water, is efiected by means of a valve 6..

Figs. 1, 2,6, 7, S and 9. Above the mixing chamber the bore of the valve6 :is reduced,

and above said portion the body is formed with an enlarged socket orcavity 6 The top end of the valve body is formed with diametric slots 6The valve 6 is preferably nonmetallic for reducing friction and wearingof the parts. The valve is rotatable by means of a stem 7, which isloosely disposed in the axial bore of the valve body, and has a reducedlower end portion 7 that extends into the chamber 6'. This end of thestem is formed with a threaded hole to receive a screw 8, which supportsa disc 8, the said disc being larger in diameter than the stem andpreventing the stem from being accidentally withdrawn from the body. Thereduced portion 7 of the stem is longer than the adjacent contractedbore of the valve body and allows the stem a slight movement axiallyrelatively to the body, as may be understood by comparing Figs. 1 and 9.The medial portion of the stem is enlarged, as at 7 and this portion isnormally disposed in the cavity 6", the said portion being perforateddiametrically to receive a pin 9, which is loosely positioned in theslots 6'", and is employed for driving the valve, as well as forpreventing rotation of the stem in the valve. Above the socket ti thestem is formed with coarse box-threads 7", and

above the said threads the stem is reduced again, as at 7, and its topend is fitted with a handle 10, by which the stem and valve may berotated as one part. The threaded portion 7 of the stem is engaged by acylindrical nut 12, the latter having a flange 12, and said flange beingformed with oppositely facing peripheral lugs or ears 12, which aredisposed in similar longitudinal guide-ways or grooves 2 of th casing,for'rendering the nut non-rotatable. The valve 6 is held operatively inits seat by the nut 12, an adjusting member 13. which is threaded intothe top end of the casing 2, and a sleeve 1% which is disposed betweenthe nut and the body of the valve (see Fig. 1) By the fore-. goingconstruction and arrangement of the parts, the stem when rotated by'thehandle is reciprocated by means of its threads engaging the nut 12, totheextent allowed by the vertical play of the pin. 9 in the groove 6.For example, when the handle 10 is swung in one direction, the stem iscarried upwardly by the nut 12, and the pin 10 engages'the bottom end ofthe sleeve 14. This stops the further rotation ofthe stem, lVhen thehandle is swung'in the opposite direction, th enlargement 7 bottoms inthe cavity 6' which again stops the rotary movement of the valve andstem. The spacing of the disc 8 and the said enlargement determines thegreatest distance the stem may be moved axially. The member 13 isprovided with sockets 13, for the use of a. spanner wrench, by which itsadjustments may be effected. When the mixing valve is,

responds to that of said member.

dispensing of warm water.

assembled, the member 13 is screwed downwardly until it bears againstand forces the nut 12 and the sleeve 14 in the direction for operativelyseating the valve 6. The member 13 is then left in that position untilthe valve or its seat becomes worn to an extent that requiresreadjustment. Upon the top face of the member 13 is disposed awasherlike guard 15, whose normal diameter cor The washer 15 is providedwith similar peripheral ears 15 that engage the grooves 2 of the casing,like the flange of the nut, for preventing rotation of the washer. Uponthe washer 15 is then disposed a relatively thick layer or sheet ofpacking, as 16, the said packing preferably being large enough indiameter to overlap the top-end of the casing 2, as shown in Fig. 1,thereby tending to prevent water. that might well-up in the casing, fromleaking through the threaded joint of the parts 2 and 13. The packing 16is compressed against the washer and the casing, by means of a screw-cap17, which engages external threads of the casing. For this purpose, theinner face of the cap is arched, as at 17, and when the cap is screweddown tightly upon the packing, the latter becomes compressed downwardlyas well as radially against the stem and the casing for preventingleakage, between or around the said parts. The particular use of theguard 15 is to prevent the packing, which is more or less adhesive, fromaccidentally disturbing the adjustment of the member 13, in case thpacking tends to retate with the cap 16 ..when the latter is screwed ineither direction. This is an important feature of the invention since iteffectually obviates all danger of the valve being loosened relativelyto its seat and causing leakage, when the valve, while idle, issubjected to the usual service pressure,

which ordinarily ranges from sixty t-o eighty 1 pounds.

According to the showing in Figs. 1 and 2, when the handle 10 is in thefull line position (which corresponds to the full line radial arrow inFig. 2'), the port 6 of the valve is positioned to draw cold water fromthe arm 3 into the chamber 6, from which the water may gravitate towardsthe neck 2, and thence through a discharge member 18. VJhen the handleis swung to the central dotted position (see Fig. 1, and the radialarrow in Fig. 6), the ports 6 and 6 are in comn'iunication respectivelywith the cold and hot water ducts 3-l, which effects the And when thehandle 10 is swung to the right dotted position of Fig. 1 see also fullline radial arrow in Fig. 7) the valve is positioned for drawing onlyhot water from the arm 4. The

reversing of the handle 10, likewise reverses hot water.

, The closing of the valve 6 is effected by swinging the handle 10 tocorrespond to either of the positions shown by the] dotted arrows inFigs. 2 and 7 In Figs. Sand 9 is shown a four-way mixingvalve whosecasing 2 is formed with a cold waterreceiving' arm 8*, which connectswith the valve chamber 2 by a passage 3*,

and a hot water arm 43 that connects With the-chamber 2* by asimilarpassage 4P. In

this modified casing, thevalve 6' and related and controlling parts areintended to'be the same inall respects, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and"said valve is shown in a position corresponding to the showing in Fig.6,for dispensing warm water. water gravitates from the mixing chamber 6into a relatively large compartment 2, which is in normal unrestrictedcommunication with similar diametrically arranged'discharged openings 22 that" are adapted to carry the water dispensed by the valve, as forexample, to a bath tub, as well as to a showcr'head (not shown), asshown by the drawings of my pending applications.

My improved mixing valve is extremely sim ale, and aif'ords novel,convenient and effective' means for controlling the supply or" water atdifferent temperatures, by means of a single control; The means forpreventing accidental disturbance of the valve after it has beenproperly adjusted relatively to its seat, as by the rotation of thescrew-cap 17, and the disposition and arrangement of the washer 1'5which prevents ready access to, or tampering with the adjusting member13, enables me to produce a fluid dispensing valve with fewer parts,which is more compact and durable, and is less liable to leak orot-herwise become disordered, than any of the older fittings of the class,known to me. The packing 16 is the only means require for preventingleakage of the mixing valve, and when said packing is applied, as hereinshown and described, and the cap 17 and other related parts are properlyadjusted, the valve will Withstand constant use for long periods oftime, without attention or care of any kind.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is- 1. In a mixing valvethe combination with a hollow body formed with a valve chamber and athreaded barrel, a valve rotatable in said body, a stem connected tosaid valve, said stem being partially threaded, of a threaded adjustingmember adapted to be screwed into the barrel of the body for normallyholding the valve operatively seated, a non-rotatable nut engaging thethreads of the stem and controlling the rotary move ments of the valve,said nut cooperating with said adjusting member for controlling theseating of the valve, a disc overlying said adjusting member and beinginterlocked In Figs. 8 and 9 the with said barrel for preventingrotation of the disc, a packing for sealing the threaded joint betweensaid adjusting member and said barrel and surrounding the stem beyondthe disc, and a screw-cap for closing the end of the barrel, adapted forcompressing the packing tightly against the" stem.

2. In a mixing'valve the combinationwith' a hollow body formed with avalve chamber and a threaded barrel, a valve rotatable in said body, anda stem loosely connected to saidvalve, said stem being partiallythreaded, of a threaded adjusting member adapted to be screwed into thebarrel of the body for normally holding the valve operatively seated, astationary nut engaging: the threads of the stem and controlling therotary movements of the valve, said nut cooperating with said adjustingmember for controlling the seating of the valve, a disc overlying saidadjusting member and being interlocked with said barrel for preventingrotation of the disc, a packing for sealing the tareaded joint betweensaid adjusting member and said barrel, said packing being supported bysaid disc and surrounding the stem beyond the disc, and screw-cap forclosing the end of the barrel, the inner side 0t said cap being archedand adapted for compressing the packing tightly against the stem.

3. A mixing valve including a. body formed with a valve chamber and ahollow threaded portion, a valve rotatable in said chamber, a stem foroperating the valve, said stem protruding through the hollow portion andbeing threaded beyond the valve, a member engaging the threads-0t thestem and controlling the rotary move ments thereof, a threaded discbeyond said member adapted tocooperate with said member for adjustingand holding the valve in its seat, a packing for preventing leakage ofwater beyond said member, means interposed between the packing and saiddisc for preventing accidental rotation of the disc and disturbing theadjustment of the valve, and a screw-cap closing the end of the threadedportion and being formed internally for compressing the packingdownwardly and radially.

4. In a mixing valve the combination with ahollow body formed with avalve chamber and a threaded barrel, and a valve rotatable in said body,of a spanner adjusting nut adapted to be screwed in to the barrel fornormally holding the valve operatively seated, a stem loosely connectedto the valve and passing axially through said nut, said stem beingpartially threaded, a member engaging the threads of said stem belowsaid nut adapted to reciprocate said stem during the rotation of thevalve, a packing for sealing the open end of said barrel beyond saidnut, a washer interposed between said packing and said nut, means forpreventing rotation of said washer, and means for compressing thepacking for sealing the joints between said member and said barrel aswell as between the stem and said washer.

5. In a mixing valve, the combination with a hollow body having a valvechamber.

' her being interposed between said nut and said valve, a packing forsealing the end of the barrel, a cap for closing the said end and forcompressing the packing, and a non-rotatable disc interposed between thepacking and the adjusting nut, and preventing the rotation of thepacking from disturbing the adjustment of said nut.

6. In a fluid mixing device, a body formed with a valve chamber and witha threaded cylindrical portion extending axially away from said chamber,a valve in said chamber, a stem for rotating said valve, means foreffecting the reciprocation of said stem during the rotation of thevalve and for stopping the rotary movements of the stem and valve at theend of each dispensing operation, an adjusting member threaded into saidcylindrical portion adapted to adjust and hold the valve relatively toits seat, a guard for protecting said adjusting member said guard beingmounted upon said member and having peripheral lugs that engage saidcylindrical portion for preventing rotation of said guard, a disc-shapedcompressible packing mounted upon said guard and overlying the open endof the cylindrical portion, said packing having an opening to receivethe stem, and means for compressing the packing and for forcing ittightly against the stem and said guard.

7. In a mixing valve for dispensing water at different temperatures, thecombination with a hollow body formed with a valve chamber and with athreaded portion beyond said chamber and having cold and hot water inletducts communicating with said chamber, of a valve rotatable in saidchamber and having radial ports adapted to respectively control the flowof the cold and hot water into said chamber, a stem for rotating saidvalve said stem passing axially through said threaded portion, means forreciprocating said stem when the latter is rotating the valve and forstopping the rotary movements of the stem immediately the valve isclosed, a disc adjustably supported in said threaded portion adapted tocontrol the operative seatin of the valve, a cap for closing the openend of said threaded portion, a packing member partially filling thehollow side of said cap concentric to and in contact with the stem andalso overlying the open end of said threaded portion, said packingadapted to be compressed by said cap against said stem and also againstsaidthreaded portion for preventing leakage in case the water wellsupwardly in said portion, and means interposed between said disc andsaid packing for preventing the packing from disturbing the adjustmentof the valve in case the pack ing rotates with the cap.

I11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ORVIS WV. VALLIER.

